The Latest: Strange to be sworn in as US senator Thursday

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — The Latest on the appointment of Luther Strange of Alabama to the U.S. Senate. (all times local):

9:20 a.m.

The governor says Luther Strange will be sworn in as the new U.S. senator from Alabama.

Gov. Robert Bentley said he will hand-deliver the letter appointing Strange to the U.S. Senate. He said that will enable Strange to be sworn in and put a "Republican vote" in the Senate Thursday afternoon.

Bentley signed the document officially appointing Strange to the U.S. Senate in a news conference Thursday morning.

Strange called the appointment the "honor of his life."

Strange will take the seat left empty by Jeff Sessions. The U.S. Senate confirmed Sessions as U.S. attorney general on Wednesday night.

7 a.m.

Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange has been named to the U.S. Senate seat left empty by Jeff Sessions.

Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley announced Thursday the interim appointment of Strange, a 63-year-old lawyer and former Washington lobbyist.

The seat opened up after Sessions' appointment to become U.S. attorney general under President Donald Trump was confirmed Wednesday.

Strange has been Alabama's attorney general since 2011 and is a Republican like Sessions and Bentley. He announced last year that he planned to run for the Senate seat regardless of whether he got the interim appointment.

Strange will serve until an election is held to fill the seat for the remainder of Sessions' term. Bentley has said that election will be held next year.